Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 22 year-old Asad Hixon of 4243 Dudley Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York, was arraigned before County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case on an indictment charging him with three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, three counts of Assault in the Third Degree, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in the Second Degree, Leaving the Scene of an Accident without Reporting Serious Physical Injury and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.

It is alleged that on November 3, 2013, Hixon refused to stop for police after they observed him driving without a seatbelt. Hixon then drove at high speeds, went the wrong way around the traffic circle in front of City Hall, sped past the Convention Center and ran a red light at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Edward Street before colliding with two vehicles and rolling over. Hixon’s passenger, 18 year-old Dartanyon Robinson was seriously injured in the crash and was placed in a medically induced coma for several days. Natalie Gilland, 22, an occupant of the first car struck by Hixon, suffered non-life threatening injuries as did Kara Smith, 32, Kristen Armstrong, 36, who were occupants of the second car struck by Hixon. However, their mother Karen Smith, 61, suffered a fractured leg and a compound fracture to her arm which required extensive surgery.

If convicted of these crimes Hixon faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.